GRAVEYARD OF SOULS is a mysterious export off Spain, waving the flag of Doom and Death Metal with their first release, "Shadows Of Life".

The truth is, I have nothing much to say about this duo. The first track, "Genesis", as epic as its name sounds, was the first major letdown of the album. I have a serious gripe with albums that dedicate entire tracks to bumbling, mumbling sounds. Yes, literally 38 seconds of a sound, crescendoing and rolling along mindlessly. Sure, it was a serene sound that seemed to fit its title, and again I stress that it was only a sound, but seriously - was it so important to have nine tracks on an album that you would have one track consisting of a sound? Tone? Melody? I am not even sure what to call it.

The actual album seems to begin with track 2, and throughout the rest of the songs, GRAVEYARD OF SOULS demonstrated a huge inkling for the Goth scene. The way the melodies are constructed is sombre at best and monotonous at worst, without aggression, angst, or even a touch of tasteful melancholia. Again, the album rolls along mindlessly and almost nonchalantly.

The duo are said to have Doom Metal influences, and thankfully, those influences show up, albeit they are overshadowed by the album's general lack of direction. That being said, the songwriting shines in a very unexpected way - perhaps its Goth's tendency to be dramatic, but there are ponderous themes to each song, bringing with it much needed atmosphere and colour to an album that was mostly just bleak.

However, as a debut, "Shadows of Life" did its job in showcasing the range of the band - perhaps at the same time showing them what more needs to be done, and for them, it can be summarised to two words: Diversity and depth.